AboutKaren Fields Expertise I own and maintain a large number of tanks with many various tropical fish species. During my fishkeeping past I have learned a lot of the myths and truths about tropical fish care. Currently I keep a wide range of species and have a lot of experience in; Severum cichlids, gouramis, platies, goldfish, bettas, tetras, paradise fish, Angelfish, Corydoras catfish, and many others as well as a couple of years with brackish water.
If you have a question on tropical fish keeping I`ll be sure to answer it in the simplest way I can, and if I don`t know the answer, I`ll research the answer for you.
Happy fish keeping!
Experience I have experience in setting up fish tanks, what to feed certain species, compatible species in my experience, cleaning the tank,
and all around tropical fish care. I also have learned the truth of many of the myths of tropical fish keeping in the past.
Happy fishkeeping!
Question I have 4 common angels raised together in a 12 gal well planted and established Cube Master. They are now about 4 " top to bottom fin and now territorial There are Cordoryas and snails in the tank that would be difficult to remove. I am feeding granular foods and tubifix worms. I would like to breed them and have added a piece of slanted slate for eggs. I am still not sure of a pair. What would you advise or suggest?
Answer Hi Richard,
Perhaps the best thing for you to do is give your angels some time to eventually form a pair out of the four that you have. Putting the piece of slat in there was definitely a good idea to encourage this.
I would also try keeping the temp a few degrees warmer than what it normally is. And doing little water changes every to every other day really helps encourage many fish to think about spawning. And of course, try offering some frozen brine shrimp, blood-worms and other meaty frozen foods. This will help build up their condition. I find they really do well also if you can feed them three small meals a day making sure at least two of their meals includes several worms.
And then once you witness a pair going through cleaning off a surface for spawning and displaying to one another and the other angels. The best thing to do is give them their own aquarium. Ideally a 15-20gal. Spawning angelfish in community tanks usually turns out quite badly. They need their own spawning tank for peace and quiet. Set it up with a piece of slate and either a power filter with the intake covered with a sponge, or simply use a sponge filter. And make sure to continue the same routine of very frequent partial water changes and several feedings a day. They will spawn. They may not be successful with caring for the eggs at first and most pairs usually take several times to get it right but be patient most do learn eventually.
